Wheel



sept. zo, 1927. 4 1

- l F.-| LAWRENCE WHEEL Filed March 4. 1927' 2 Sheets-She-et l` I lll.. k.

ELla-wrence/ ATTORNE\ Sept. 20 1927.

^ 1,643,248 F. l1 LAWRENCE WHEEL Filed March 4. 1927 EL. Zawenae INVENT 1 l EY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Patented Sept. 2t), 1927.

UNITED STATES i l 'reims PATENT orFieri.I

FLOYD L. LAWRENCE, F MOBILE, ALABAMA.

WHEEL.

Application filed March 4, 132;. Serial `No. 172,834. v i

My present invention has reference to vehicle wheels and my object is the provision of a solid tire wheel that will have a resiliency equaling that or in excess ot a pneu-l matic tire wheel.

A further object is the provision of a there is brace means between the hub andl the spokes adjacent to the connection of the spokes with said huby which prevents any tree turning oi the hub in the initial rotation ot the wheel.

A. further object` is the provision of a vehicle wheel in which the parts constituting 2f* the same may be easily and quickly associated in the building ot the wheel and likewise easily and' quickly disassociated as when a broken part is to be replaced without interfering with the remaining` parts.

To, the attainment ofthe above broadly stated objects and many others which will present themselves as the nature ot' theinvention is better understood, the improvement further resides in certain novel fea- 3 tures of construction, combination and operative association of parts, a satisfactory embodiment of which is disclosed by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shock absorbing wheel in accordance with this invention, parts being in section. j

Figure 2 is a sectional view approximately on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view yot one of the butter members.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of 'a second form of the improvement.

Figure 5 is a sectional vieu7 on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Preferably but not necessarily my improved shock absorbing wheel is wholly constructed of metal, and in both of the illustrative embbdiments of my device, a chan- 5 neled rim 1 is employed, and in this rim there is seated a solid tire 2. On the inner face of the rim 1 at equidistantly spaced intervals there are secured buffer members '3. The butter members have arcuate base por- 5" tions corresponding to the contour of the rim 1, and these base portions 4 are bolted pairs Qt Outstanding @are 9, respectively', and,

connection with the hub 16 are thickened and to Vthesaicl rim. The buffer members are provided with" sides w5 that merge into they arched top or tace 6, and the sides 5 at the lower edge of the bui'er member are formed co with outstanding flanges 7. l 4. l The hub 8, in the construction.illustrated inl Figures 1 and2 of' the drawings, ispef Tljhellly 10.31116@ with equidistantly spaced between each ofthefse ears there is secured a curved spoke '10.l Each spoke is `tormed of a flat steel" plate and the outer edges 'ofV the spokes are received between thetlanges 7 but the remainder o t' the spokes is slightly 7" Aspaced away from the'y arched face 6 of thel y butter members y Each spoke 10, at a suitable distance from its connection with the ears 9 is preferably thickened and thesaid thickened, portion is centrally formedwith a. transverse opening. Through each of these openings there' is passed the centrall or connecting element of U.- or yoke-shaped members y1], and the ends `of these `members are secured'to lugs 12 which extend laterallyuw from theears 9,.` rllie yokes 11 provide braces for the curved'spri'ng spokes 10 and prevent I any tendency of independent movement of the hub 8 when the wheel is first revolved. The ends of the spokes that rest on the inner or reduced ends of the buffer members 3 are bolted or otherwise removably secured to the buffer members, as indicated by the numerals 13, and these securing means also pass through the rim 1 as well as the said buffer members. In this connection it should be stated Vthat the attaching means between the spokes andthe hub are likewise in the nature of removable elements which is also true withrespect to the brace yokes 11.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, I employ substantially S-shaped steel spokes 14, the said spokes being connected to the rim and to the ends of the buffer members 3 in a manner as previously described. The inner ends of kthese spokes are bolted, as at 15, to the periphery of the hub 16. The spokes 14 at i points adjacent to and equidistant from their f1 p curved an equal pressure is exerted on all of the spokes when the Wheel revolves. The

brace means as stated, prevent any tendency of movement of the hub independent of thespokes, which is a material advantage in wheels of this type. Any abnormal strain to Which'thespokes are subjected Will be absorbed bythe contact of the said spokes With the buffer members 3. The construction is simple and a Wheel in accordance with my invention may be cheaply manufactured.

The tvheelwill aii'ord a resiliency equal to or greater than that of a pneumatic tire Wheel,

and While the parte constituting "the im! provement are not liable to breakage any one of the elements thereof may be disconnected Without interferingwith the remainder of the Wheel construction.

l.' In a Wheel construction, a tire carrying rim, equidistantly spaced arched buffer meinberson the inner periphery ot the rim, hub, and curved spokes secured to the hub and to the reduced ends of the buffer members and the remainder ofthe said spokes being Vspaced fromisaid buer members.

inner periphery ofthe rim, each of said p buffer members including a base, an arched face portion and sides `connecting the face buffer members, the spokes proper being spaced from the buiier members.

3. In a vehicle Wheel, a tire carrying rim,

equidistantly spaced ,butter members on the inner periphery of the rim, each of said buffer members including a base, an arched face portion and sides connecting the face portion with the base, saidsides at the re` duced ends of the buifer members having, langes, a hub, and curved spokes secured to the hub and between the flanges of the buf-` fer members, the spokes proper being spaced from the buffer members and brace means Y between the hub and the adjacent to saidhub. e

- d. In a vehicle Wheel, a tire carrying rim, equidistantlyspaced buier members on the Y l .inner peripheryof the rim, each of said buf- IrIavingdescrlbed the invention, I cla1m:-`

parts of the spokes ermembers including a base, an arched face `portionV and sides connecting the face por-v tion with the base, said sides at the reduced ends of the buffer members having flanges,

`a hub, and curved spokes secured to the hub and between the flangesiof the buf'fermembers, the spokes proper being spaced from the buiiermembers, and angularly arranged removable brace means between the spokes and thefhub.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. i

FLOYD L. LAvvnnNonL4 L 

